Chelsea Reserves Look To Keep Winning Habit

Last updated : 07 March 2005 By Stray Shots Team

It is the second home game in a row for Mick McGiven's team, following on from last Monday's emphatic 3-0 over Derby.

That was the best showing of the season at The Recreation Ground, making it 22 out of the last possible 27 points and keeping Chelsea in sixth place in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League South. Leicester are twelfth with two wins out of ten games on their travels.

Chelsea will be looking to put the record straight against tonight's visitors having felt aggrieved when returning from the corresponding fixture in October with only a draw.

Against an experienced Leicester side, Chelsea led through a Danny Hollands goal until the dying minutes when a penalty was awarded which Lenny Pidgeley saved but was harshly forced to face a retake.

McGiven (pictured) has selected a familiar looking Chelsea line-up for the re-match. Steven Watt returns to defence after suspension so Nuno Morais will move forward into midfield to take the place of Jimmy Smith. He picked up an ankle injury in the Derby game.

Filipe Oliveira, who scored his first two goals since September in that match, is in attack while centre-back Adrian Pettigrew will be looking to make the scoresheet for a remarkable third game running having not previously found the net since joining Chelsea full-time.

Tonight's game is one of six remaining this season and is immediately followed by clashes with two London rivals, Arsenal away next Monday and then Tottenham the week after.

The full Chelsea line-up tonight is:
Lenny Pidgeley, Dean Smith, Steven Watt, Adrian Pettigrew, Sam Tillen, Nuno Morais, Anthony Grant, Danny Hollands (capt), Filipe Oliveira, Sebastian Kneissl, Danny Woodards.

Subs: James Russell (gk), Joe Tillen, Michael Mancienne, Dean Furman, Filipe Morais.

Leicester:
Peter Akman, Liam Norvall, Tyson Payne, James Wesolowski, Scott Lycett, Alan Sheehan, Ashley Chambers, Adam Wykes, Chris O'Grady, Louis Dodds, Levi Porter.

Subs: Lawrence Hunter, Conrad Logan, Billy McKay, Matthew Goodwin.

The game is at Aldershot Town FC, kick-off 7pm. Admission is £5 adults, £2 under 16s and senior citizens, free to Chelsea season ticket holders.

The match will also be shown live on Chelsea TV. Broadcasting starts at 6.30pm with Kerry Dixon in the studio and Clive Walker co-commentating.

by Paul Mason


To check the latest table click on the link below: http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enCompReservesSouth